Chapter 920 Empty City Strategy?

"Speed ​​up the march, and we must arrive in Duliang County before sunset today!" Huang Zhong rode on horseback and shouted loudly to the soldiers behind him.

Above the official road, several rows of Jingzhou soldiers were seen marching mightily on the avenue. They were Wuling soldiers under Liu Pan.

Since formulating a new strategy, Liu Pan and Huang Zhong had no scruples and led more than ten thousand Wuling troops all the way south unscrupulously, from Wuling County directly to Lingling County. Their momentum was fierce, and their troops were directed towards the capital to the west of Lingling County. Liang County.

In normal times, marching and fighting would never be so blatant. They would usually be cautious and even take the initiative to cover up the news by taking small roads, in order to reduce the enemy's attention and attack the city as soon as possible before enemy reinforcements arrive.

But today is different from the past. Liu Pan and Gao Chong's soldiers split into two groups and attacked Sun Quan from Lingling and Changsha respectively. Jiangdong's army was stretched thin, so what was there to fear?

"The sentry is going to Duliang County to investigate. Go and come back quickly!" Liu Pan ordered again.

Seeing Liu Pan's arrogant look, Huang Zhong couldn't help but remind him: "It's better to be careful when it comes to public power. I heard that Zhou Gongjin has returned to take control of the military. His ability to command troops is very important. "

After listening to Huang Zhong's words, Liu Pan smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, Brother Han Sheng, even if Zhou Yu is alive and Sun Wu is resurrected, and now our two armies are advancing together, what can he do?"

Huang Zhong wanted to persuade him again, but suddenly a sentry from the front came back on horseback and shouted to Liu Pan: "General! From the direction of Duliang County, it was discovered that the Jiangdong Army was rushing towards the county seat, with a strength of about 10,000 people. about!"

"oh?"

Liu Pan became excited: "What flag is the enemy using?"

"Zhou character flag."

"Hmph, it seems that Zhou Yu is here in person. This time I want to see what he is capable of." Liu Pan sneered.

Huang Zhong took a step forward, fearing that Liu Pan would underestimate the enemy, so he said first, "Gongquan, why don't I lead the vanguard troops to Duliang County to fight Zhou Yu."

Liu Pan thought for a while and said: "That's fine. Brother Han Sheng is a veteran general and can definitely compete with Zhou Yu. I will send five thousand troops and horses to Brother Han Sheng."

"Here!"

After that, Huang Zhong divided his troops into five thousand men, led them, and accelerated all the way towards Duliang County, when he happened to run into another detective sentry head-on.

"stop!"

Huang Zhong stopped his riding, reined in his horse and asked, "How far away is Zhou Yu's army? Has it already entered Duliang City?"

"Old General Huang, Zhou Yu not only did not lead his troops into the city, but also opened Duliang City and took away the soldiers, horses and food in the city. Now the gates of Duliang City are wide open. I don't know what to do, so I hurry up. Report back to the old general." The detective replied.

"Ah?" Huang Zhong couldn't help but be startled when he heard this, and then he looked strange. What was Zhou Yu's plan this time?

"No matter what, let's go at full speed. We'll get to Duliang City first. Hurry!"

Huang Zhong waved his hand and led the five thousand Wuling troops to speed up and rush towards Duliang City.

Five thousand vanguard troops arrived at the gate of Duliang City non-stop. Huang Zhong took a closer look and saw that the gate of Duliang City was indeed wide open, and there was not even a single soldier on the top of the city. It seemed that it was completely empty.

"Huh?" Huang Zhong looked confused.

The soldiers on the side suggested: "Old General, this may be a trick by the enemy to lure them. Maybe the enemy has set up an ambush in the city. As soon as we enter, the enemy will immediately launch an attack on our army. How about waiting until General Liu Lang arrives with follow-up reinforcements before making a decision?"

Huang Zhong immediately sneered: "Our army's five thousand vanguards are here, and they are so frightened by the enemy's empty city that they dare not move?"

"I will personally select two thousand elite soldiers to enter the city. You will set up a formation outside the city. If an enemy army comes, you must guard it tightly and send people to ask General Liu for help. Do you understand?"

After Huang Zhong made an explanation, he then led two thousand sharp soldiers into the empty city.

As a large state in the south of the Han Dynasty, Jingzhou is naturally sparsely populated and underdeveloped. Nanyang County and Nan County in the north are relatively better, but the four counties in Jingnan are far less developed. Duliang County is also It is not the seat of the county government, so the population is naturally sparse.

After Huang Zhong led his troops in, there was still no movement in the city. After he led his troops and horses to search the city, he still found nothing. In the end, he had to fight out of the city with doubts. .

"Brother Han Sheng! Did you find any movement in the city?"

Huang Zhong had just led two thousand elite soldiers to fight out, and found that Liu Pan had arrived with follow-up reinforcements and asked Huang Zhong.

Huang Zhong shook his head: "No, Zhou Yu seems to have really emptied all the soldiers, horses, grain and grass in Duliang City, and then escaped."

"Oh? Hahahaha!"

Liu Pan couldn't help laughing when he heard this: "I thought Zhou Yu was such a hero, but it turns out he is just a coward."

"Did you hear this, soldiers? This Zhou Yu is just like this, hahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

Hearing Liu Pan's words, all the Wuling soldiers couldn't help laughing, but Huang Zhong still looked cautious.

"Gong Quan, Zhou Yu may have wanted to fortify the walls and clear the country, collect soldiers, horses, grain and grass, and then choose a fortified city to resist our army." Huang Zhong said: "The army he led obviously numbered ten thousand people, which was on par with our army, but he took the initiative to leave behind All the troops, horses, and supplies were withdrawn, I’m afraid that’s why.”

Liu Pan laughed and said: "What are you afraid of? That Zhou Yu took the initiative to avoid our army, which shows that he has lost his spirit. Our army pressed forward step by step, forcing the enemy to retreat, and then let him fight with our army. Isn't that it? Then if Zhou Yu avoids fighting and retreats all the way to Guiyang, wouldn't it be wonderful if our army can capture Lingling without a single blow and join forces with Governor Gao in Guiyang County?"

Although Huang Zhong felt that it was not that simple, he also felt that what Liu Pan said was somewhat reasonable, so he nodded: "Well, as long as our army fights steadily, I believe the enemy can't do anything to our army."

In fact, before the Battle of Chibi burned the chain ships and defeated Cao Cao, Zhou Yu's popularity was far from that high, so it is understandable that Liu Pan did not pay much attention to Zhou Yu. On the contrary, what Liu Pan paid more attention to was not Zhou Yu, but Jiangdong Army general Taishi Ci, because Sun Ce once appointed Taishi Ci as the captain of Jianchang to compete with Liu Pan.

As a result, Liu Pan and Huang Zhong took a short rest in Duliang City and left three hundred soldiers and horses to guard the city and serve as a transportation place for grain and grass. Then they led nearly 12,000 Wuling troops to continue Marching eastward towards Fuyi, Liu Pan eagerly hoped to have a decisive battle with Zhou Yu's main force.